Could use some advice on a pilot badge.

Der Staffel · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 4

I'm interested in this pilot badge but I'm not sure of it. I have not been at this too long and could use some advice from an experienced collector. Can any body help please?

http://www.hmsbrinmaric.com/images/m180.htm

feldwebel · Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 21

I`m not a badge expert but I have seen a good number & I dont like it.
you need to get one that is textbook. Try getting a copy of Formans guide book to third reich medals & badges first & then go hunting. Mistakes in this hobby are expensive.

Combat Relics · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 149

The photos are not all that great. It appears to be a Zinc Assman mid to late war. (These are terms used for this pattern badge back in the days when the experts did not have all the books out yet.)

The eagle looks like the right pattern for that model, the grey warmetal rivet heads on that pattern are often eggshaped or a bit squashed and not perfect little round domes.

This pattern almost never surfaced in front of me with any sort of a hallmark. So unmarked would go with those wingtip cuts. The wreath looks like the right one for that eagle with that head, body angle, Swastika, and wing feather fletching. The aging looks honest and not humped up. The scratch on the back is a typical thing to see a vet do to attempt a lame determination of possible silver. Or of a collector many years ago trying to determine whether it was actually lead!

So it appears to be original, or a virtually perfect copy of that pattern.

Now as far as logic goes. If you are a faker and you put out the expense to make a badge that is optically identical to an original, do you,
a. make an unmarked badge or one with a great hallmark?
b. make it in gray war metal with a cheapo silvered finish or in a fine metal with beautiful plating?

Now, read the sellers terms and conditions of sale. What does that tell you?
Next, look at his goods, what do you think now?

One thing I do know, is that the seller has very good comments made about him, his honesty and his handling of original items, and that is a plus.

Now, do some searching, write some emails, buy some books! Do whatever you can to be competent in this field, and share it all back with us.

Ok... unless anybody else has a comment, it is up to you to carry the ball from here.

If I have made any inaccurate statement here, PLEASE Correct me! I don't like doing this sort of appraisal.

It seems though, that some types of techniques and thinking needed to be demonstrated.

Does anyone else wish to display the techniques they use for such determinations?

Combat Relics · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 149

A 1 minute effort on Google searching Luftwaffe Pilot Badge unmarked turned up these 2 links...I added a couple comments.

http://www.thirdreichmedals.com/pictures/f1096.html
Seems to be the same maker, small mark on wreath is an anomally. I have never had such a mark on one of these that I owned.

http://www.thirdreichmedals.com/pictures/f541.html
likely the same maker... note the variant catch.. often catches, pins and hinges vary with a maker using what he had access to or made himself.

Funny though how the hinges on all 3 seem to be basically the same.

Now how hard is it to find decent data?

We do not have to be Einstein, all we have to do is at least try to cover the basics.

Nemo · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 5

I'm new to this forum. It doesn't look like this forum is to old because I only see posts going back a couple of months. I'm a member of another militaria related forum and post occasionally. I'll post the same things I do on that forum here so I might get some different replys.

It looks to me like No1seller is contributing a lot here. I just wanted to say that I think he makes some good points. I haven't seen that name on the other forum. Do you post there using a different name?

sodak222 · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 13

I have bought many items from hmsbrinmaric and have never gotten a fake item This guy deal only in originals.

Combat Relics · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 149

I do not contribute to any other forums.

I communicate with a smaller group of people here, and try to help out when I can.

Trying to give some tips and concepts to think over, is about the limit of what I want to do.

Lets hope that this site thrives. I find good relics, and good people here every week!

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